Where were you
On the 5th of September 1973?
It was my third day of high school.
With the melding of three middle schools
more faces to ignore me
a crowd to get lost in
and maybe find someone
who also loves words and photography.
Where were you?
I rode a bus home
past long driveways,
of a thousand houses, with curtains drawn,
empty cars parked out front,
squirrels running on the wires above.
I came home
to brothers and sisters, dogs and cats
admonitions to clean up
and dinner at six.
Where were you
on the fifth of September, 1973
when Alexandra K was born in Wichita,
the editor of the Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria, Ohio
returned from vacation
and the Georgia Supreme Court decided Clark v. State?
Where were you
when fourteen days before her sixteenth birthday
she was taken by force
deprived of her freedom her dignity her soul
her self;
deadened with fear, knowing her life would soon end
and that would be the good part.
Where were you
when covered in her own vomit from fear
she was forced to strip,
clean herself up,
so he could rape her.
Where were you
as she lay trapped under his massive bulk
knowing only fear as the day died
as she negotiated for her release of her body
and was raped again.
Where were you
when finally her body was released
still breathing
and thrown to the street
by the garbage cans
at the end of a long driveway
where ultimately she was told
to just get over it.
Where were you September 3, 1973?
Where were you last night?
SP
On the 5th of September 1973?
It was my third day of high school.
With the melding of three middle schools
more faces to ignore me
a crowd to get lost in
and maybe find someone
who also loves words and photography.
Where were you?
I rode a bus home
past long driveways,
of a thousand houses, with curtains drawn,
empty cars parked out front,
squirrels running on the wires above.
I came home
to brothers and sisters, dogs and cats
admonitions to clean up
and dinner at six.
Where were you
on the fifth of September, 1973
when Alexandra K was born in Wichita,
the editor of the Chronicle-Telegram in Elyria, Ohio
returned from vacation
and the Georgia Supreme Court decided Clark v. State?
Where were you
when fourteen days before her sixteenth birthday
she was taken by force
deprived of her freedom her dignity her soul
her self;
deadened with fear, knowing her life would soon end
and that would be the good part.
Where were you
when covered in her own vomit from fear
she was forced to strip,
clean herself up,
so he could rape her.
Where were you
as she lay trapped under his massive bulk
knowing only fear as the day died
as she negotiated for her release of her body
and was raped again.
Where were you
when finally her body was released
still breathing
and thrown to the street
by the garbage cans
at the end of a long driveway
where ultimately she was told
to just get over it.
Where were you September 3, 1973?
Where were you last night?
SP
6 comments:
I must return and read this several times before I can speak.
Woof.
Until then...
--
Oh, Shark...
What Wendy said.
Thank you, friend.
Shark, you are special, not ordinary at all. Thank you for the comment you left on my blog. I left something in Foolie's comments, but I just sent it so it's not moderated yet.
{{{{{{{{Specialshark}}}}}}}}
Lynn and Marm- Thank you both for your strength and allowing me to use your words.
And as an aside, Lynn, an "ordinary" bicycle is the type made from the 1840's to the 1880s. I collect and ride them...but thank you all the same.
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